Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye, a biblical writer in the service of social peace

For this new installment of "Lights of Faith," Seneweb focuses on the life of a man of dialogue and profound biblical understanding: Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye. From the island of Fadiouth to the hills of Jerusalem, from the bishopric of Kaolack to the archbishopric of Dakar, this peacemaker has left his mark on the contemporary history of Senegal. As he passes the torch, we look back on the life of a pastor who made interreligious fraternity his greatest calling.

The Catholic Church in Senegal gives thanks for the fruitful ministry of Benjamin Ndiaye, Archbishop Emeritus of Dakar, whose pastoral mission has profoundly marked ecclesial life and interreligious dialogue in the country.

Roots in Fadiouth and an excellent education

Born on October 28, 1948, in Fadiouth, Benjamin Ndiaye was baptized on the day of his birth. Drawn to the priesthood from a young age, he entered the minor seminary of Ngasobil before continuing his studies at the Libermann major seminary and the Sainte-Marie de Hann college. His thirst for knowledge then led him to Ivory Coast, and later to Fribourg, Switzerland, where he earned a licentiate in theology in 1977.

On August 21, 1977, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Hyacinthe Thiandoum in his hometown. Faithful to the tradition that unites faith and intellect, he specialized at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem. Later, in 1996, he crowned this brilliant intellectual journey with a doctorate in theology from the Catholic Institute of Paris.

From Kaolack to the Dakar headquarters

On June 15, 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kaolack. Consecrated by Cardinal Théodore-Adrien Sarr, he exercised this ministry with renowned pastoral zeal for thirteen years. On December 22, 2014, he was called to succeed the latter as Archbishop of Dakar, a position to which he was officially installed on February 21, 2015.

His episcopate was distinguished by a particular focus on unity and social justice. As President of the Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, he was able to represent the Church's voice with authority and compassion throughout the sub-region.

A builder of bridges between believers

A tireless champion of social cohesion, Bishop Ndiaye cultivated fraternal relations with all religious communities in Senegal. This testament to brotherhood was poignantly demonstrated in 2019 during his visit to the General Caliph of the Mourides, Serigne Mountaga Mbacké, on the eve of the inauguration of the Massalikoul Jinaan Mosque. Through his actions, he reinforced the unique Senegalese approach, founded on mutual respect.

Passing on the torch

On February 22, 2025, Pope Francis accepted his resignation due to age, appointing Bishop André Guèye to succeed him. At 77, Bishop Benjamin Ndiaye retires, leaving a legacy of peace. In a nation where dialogue is second nature, he has proven that faith, far from being a divider, is the cement of a peaceful coexistence of which an entire people can be proud.